Forum topic: No reprieve for three local libraries

Local libraries recommended for closure

Excerpts from the report

Bowes Road

We are recommending the closure of Bowes Road Library given its lack of accessibility for users with a disability, low usage and proximity to Palmers Green and Oakwood libraries. This is an opportunity to reduce library costs whilst ensuring we provide a comprehensive library service that responds to local need.

The library is in New Southgate ward which ranks 15 th out of the 25 Enfield wards for level of local need. It is considered that it would be reasonable for library users to travel to alternative provision at Palmers Green and Oakwood libraries, due to the good transport links. Palmers Green is 1.8km away, which would take the average person 23- minutes to walk or 8 minutes to cycle. For those unable to walk, this would be a 6- minute drive or 16 minutes by public transport. This library is 5km from Oakwood Library which would take 14 minutes to travel by car or 18 minutes by public transport.

Bowes Road Library is comparatively one of our least used libraries and during 2023/24 had 7,076 visits. The library is not accessible for users with a disability as it does not have step free access or a public toilet, which are both available at Palmers Green and Oakwood.

Winchmore Hill

We are recommending the closure of Winchmore Hill Library, as it is in area of low need and is located within a reasonable distance of other library provision (Ridge Avenue and Palmers Green respectively). This is an opportunity to reduce library costs whilst ensuring we provide a comprehensive library service that responds to local need.

Winchmore Hill is ranked 24 th out of the 25 wards in Enfield for level of local need. It is considered that it would be reasonable for library users to travel to alternative provision at Palmers Green and Ridge Avenue, due to the good transport links. Palmers Green is 1.8km away. This would take the average person 25 minutes to walk or 6 minutes to cycle. For those unable to walk the journey would take 13 minutes by public transport or 6 minutes to drive. Alternatively, Ridge Avenue Library is 1.8km away. This would take the average person 24 minutes to walk or 6 minutes to cycle. For

Southgate

We are recommending the closure of Southgate Library, as it is in an area of relatively low need and is located within a reasonable distance of alternative library provision at Palmers Green and Oakwood. This is an opportunity to reduce library costs whilst ensuring we provide a comprehensive library service that responds to local need. Southgate is ranked 14th out of the 25 wards in Enfield for level of local need. It is considered that it would be reasonable for library users to travel to alternative provision at Palmers Green and Oakwood, due to good transport links.

This library is 2.7km from Oakwood Library which is a 35-minute walk or 13-minute cycle. For those unable to walk, it would take 8 minutes to travel by car or 10 minutes by public transport. The nearest large library is Palmers Green which is 2.9km away. This would take the average person 32 minutes to walk or 9 minutes to cycle. For those unable to walk the journey would take 13 minutes by public transport or 8 minutes to drive.